The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-12-17
LAMAR'S REPORT.
Another Interesting Chapter on Land
notwithstanding Devices Resorted to-
The Indians-Pensions..

Another Interesting Chapter on Land
notwithstanding Devices Resorted to-
The NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
WASHINGTON. Dec 5.-In the annual report
Of the Secretary OF the Interior there is one
chapter that should interest every CITIZEN who
has read with shame and Indignation OF the
many flagrant Enclosures OF public lands. The
papers transmitted from the General Land
Office show that during the year 465 illegal
Enclosures, aggregating an area of nearly '.V)U,-
900 acres, have been reported Proceedings
have been instituted in 133 cases, and special
agents report that in lbs cases the removal or
illegal fences has been accomplished, throwing
open to public use 3,39i,000 acres. In addition
to this 100000 acres have been reclaimed by
special agents sent from the office to New Mex
leo and Wyoming The Secretary says:
Only where corporate connivance and prodi.
the cattlemen still detied the law and rendered
powerless the Efforts OF this department to cor
rect this abuse. AS write this report COM
plants come from region little visited by my
inspector that certain large and wealthy cor
poratons, composed OF foreigners, are con-
structing further enclosures within the railroad
limits. That others are only waiting to see what
action, If any, the Government proposes to take
to prevent this, and are ready to pursue the
same course II this can be safely DONE Within
the limits OF the railroad grants to-day exist the
only large or continuous enclosures OF public
lands. This cunning device for violating the
law and furthering their own ends at the ex-
pense OF settlement could never have been
made effectual unless the railroad companies
had come to the aid of these capitalists and
cattemen. In Wyoming the railroads have
parted with their titles to alternate sections OF
land which have been granted them and the
purchasers have erected fences upon them In
such way as to inclose large portions OF pub
lie lands
In these latter instances the Government
has not been able to nuke any material prog
ress, and the public domain has been thus ille.
gally inclosed for more than two years. In
tU0 to obtain iaSes nactments because It was i@
possible to impanel grand juries which were
not composed mostly OF men guilty OF similar
the law two plans have been suggested. The
first is TO establish public highway around
four rods wide-every section of land the Sec
tiOn lines being the center OF such highways.
Make this part OF the public land system, so
that AL future entries made upon the public
lands should be subject TO this provision When
the land taken for such highways has passed
from the Government into the hands OF private
parties the bill should provide for necessary
atively small amount, owing TO the present
low value of these lands. An additional adj
vantage, too would follow from these high
ways in opening free access to the
| streams and water courses throughout the
whole grazing region now so completely and
exclusively controlled by u few to the perma-
upon the broad uplands OF the public do
main. The second plan considered is to
sections. Such leased land should be
GSes to entry ac uasr rent na ane
from the date OF entry Entrymen should have
a right 10 lease adjacent public land proper
tionate to the area entered, and gates should
be placed to suit the convenience OF settlers,
one every mile.
The Secretary calls attention TO the enormous.
private grants alleged to have been made to
the holders by the Spanish or Mexican Govern
ments, u matter which he recommends be in
vestigated as soon as special iegislation can NIB be
| O0O acres. the titles to which have been ex-
amined by the Surveyor General during
| the last year. it has been decided that only
annual loss to the Government by the de-
struction OF timber by fire alone is esti,
| the more important but secondary loss
| which follows the destruction of the timber by
floods, land-slides climatic changes OF per-
| manent character and the violations OF the law
| by depredators upon the timber on public
lands. Legislation is needed which would look
| to the preservation OF the natural forest lands
| at the headwaters of navigable rivers, and also
u method of putting within the reach OF set
tiers legal means OF providing them with
| timber for building their homes, fuel aud other
| domestic purposes.
The Secretary suggests that the public laud
strip be added to the Territory Of New Mexico
| is found that OF the remaining l73,G0O Indians
| under their supervision, about $4,000 wear ctti-
zens' clothes wholly; that Il, houses are oc-
cupied by them; that about 25O0O Gun speak
English with sufficient intelligence for ordinary
conversation; that more than D,5OO of their
| children are in schools receiving educational
| and industrial training, for whom 1877 schools
are in operation, and that over 81, COO families
| ore engaged IN lnQuSLrlul pursuits. TneY nave
cultivated over 23SOo0 acres, built over 5,00c
rods of fencing produced over IS9,o0O bushels
OF wheat $50, bushels OF corn 402, OOO bushels
of oats, u 00J bushels of barley and rye. 514,DU0
bushels OF vegetables and $4,000 pounds Of
butter. Besides the above they have gathered
| for use and sale considerable quantities OF wild
i rice, berries herbs, furs, fish, snake root, etc.
| They have sawed 079 feet OF lumber, cut
| 74,O00 cords OF wood and 10000 tons OF hay.
90 Ses cattle. UM % ssooo swine and i,ioooo sheep.
Droughts have seriously affected the yield OF
| their crops the last year.
In the opinion OF the Secretary "the Indian
| race has reached u crisis in its history. Sur
rounded on oil sides by the forces OF civilian
ton; all the reservations closed In and pressed
upon by ever-increasing masses OF population,
made up OF impetuous, daring and aggressive
| settlers, miners, ranchmen and traders; with
no possibility OF removal 70 other RESERVATIONS
alternative presented to the Indian rhce Is abb
solute extinction or quick entrance into tho
pale of American civilization"
he compliments the Indian Freehold law and
its workings, but after reviewing the statistics
OF Indian educational matters he says:
~ have TO pleasure In contemplating In or
stating any unpromising features OF our work
among the Indians; but am convinced that II,
for their transition from , the ola to the better d
pend SO fslly upon the powers, OF attraction, our
Government will continue to be troubled with
the Indian problem for IN indefinite period
~ am persuaded tina the question OF c0mpul-
sorry education OF all the Indian youth Of the
tribes and bands under the care Of the general
Government is worthy OF early and serious con-
siderstion. Any movement In this direction
should have tho full warrant OF the law, and the
methods prescribed should be wisely adopted
and us nearly uniform rs practicable, and
shoald be kindly and iudiciously, but firmly.
euforced.'
the Secretary calls attention to the In.
| creased efficiency and diminished expenditure :
. OF the Pension Once, for which, he says, oil
the credit is due to the Commissioner he
suggests that ihe orphan children OF deceased
soldiers who may be entitled 70 pensions un
til they are sixteen years OF age should
be allowed to draw tho same after that period
ifthey are incapactate for making livelihood
and that soldiers widows who may rsaarr,
and subsequently, become widows o. hs di
their pensio " revived 70 them